{"product_id":"2940169662924","title":"The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Squared Circle\u003c\/i\u003e grows out of David Shoemaker¿s writing for Deadspin, where he started the column ¿Dead Wrestler of the Week¿ (which boasts over 1 million page views) - a feature on the many wrestling superstars who died too young because of the abuse they subject their bodies to - and his writing for Grantland, where he covers the pro wrestling world, and its place in the pop culture mainstream.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Shoemaker¿s sportswriting has since struck a nerve with generations of wrestling fans who - like him - grew up worshipping a sport often derided as ¿fake¿ in the wider culture. To them, these professional wrestling superstars are not just heroes but an emotional outlet and the lens through which they learned to see the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStarting in the early 1900s and exploring the path of pro wrestling in America through the present day, \u003ci\u003eThe Squared Circle\u003c\/i\u003e is the first book to acknowledge both the sport¿s broader significance and wrestling fans¿ keen intellect and sense of irony. Divided into eras, each section offers a snapshot of the wrestling world, profiles some of the period¿s preeminent wrestlers, and the sport¿s influence on our broader culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough the brawling, bombast, and bloodletting, Shoemaker argues that pro wrestling can teach us about the nature of performance, audience, and, yes, art.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA Blackstone Audio production.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blackstone Audio, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47161262866672,"sku":"2940169662924","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940169662924_p0.jpg?v=1769898240","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940169662924","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}